Drury English professor recalls upbringing in memoir

Nieces gave author the inspiration to write about her life

We all have a past, but how often do we take time to reflect on our upbringings and the lessons we have learned?

Resa Willis, literary scholar and English professor at Drury, has done just that in her memoir, "Farmer's Daughter and I Can Prove It."

She grew up on a small farm in Iowa. The idea for the memoir came from her city nieces asking about her childhood and an invitation she received to attend her 40th high school reunion. There were only 56 students in her graduation class.

"Originally, I didn't want to go because I had moved on," said Willis. "After some encouragement from my husband, I decided, 'Why not?' It showed me how much I had grown up and also how nobody ever really changes."

Willis is the author of two biographies: "Mark and Livy, the Love Story of Mark Twain and the Woman Who Almost Tamed Him" and "FDR and Lucy: Lovers and Friends."

Willis knew she wanted to write something, but just didn't know who or what to write about. Her nieces in Omaha and in England provided the inspiration. They often asked Willis what it was like growing up on a farm.

"They had all been raised as city girls, so they were very curious," said Willis.

"Farmer's Daughter and I Can Prove It" focuses on the comical and uplifting tales of Willis' childhood and early adult years. She lived on the farm until she left for college.

"I just wrote the book how I remembered it," she said. "And I wanted it to be funny, there is enough tragedy in the world. Everything is completely different now, and I want my audience to take the opportunity to reflect on the values their parents gave them."

The book is available on Amazon.com as an e-book.

Willis will read from her memoir at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Harwood Reading Room of the Olin Library at Drury.

She will also discuss the challenges and rewards of writing a memoir and will relate her experience with e-publishing. The event is free and open to the public.